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Diversification of External Accountants Serving Small and Medium-sized Enterprises: Evidence from Belgium

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  • Gerrit Sarens
  • Patricia Everaert
  • Frederik Verplancke
  • Ignace Beelde

Abstract

type="main"> The purpose of this study is: (1) to discover which services are offered by external accountants serving small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); (2) to study the factors that are associated with the degree of diversification of the services offered by these accountants; and (3) to investigate if there are differences between self-employed accountants and accounting firms on the previous two points. This study has some interesting conclusions: (1) the heterogeneity of internal staff is not significantly associated with the degree of diversification; (2) a homogeneous internal staff with an accounting background is particularly important for accounting firms that diversify their services in the accounting and tax area; (3) collaboration with other service providers is an important factor associated with more diversification of the services; (4) marketing is only important for self-employed accountants; (5) accounting firms offer fewer non-accounting-related services if they serve more micro clients (fewer than 10 employees), whereas self-employed accountants offer more accounting and tax services if they serve more micro clients (fewer than 10 employees); and (6) accounting firms that diversify in accounting and tax services mainly serve more micro clients (fewer than 10 employees), whereas accounting firms that diversify in non-accounting areas serve more larger clients (more than 10 employees).

Suggested Citation

  • Gerrit Sarens & Patricia Everaert & Frederik Verplancke & Ignace Beelde, 2015. "Diversification of External Accountants Serving Small and Medium-sized Enterprises: Evidence from Belgium," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 25(2), pages 155-174, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ausact:v:25:y:2015:i:2:p:155-174
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. repec:thr:techub:10021:y:2021:i:1:p:582-593 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Inta Bruna & Kastytis Senkus & Rasa Subaciene & Ruta Sneidere, 2017. "Evaluation of Perception of Accountant`s Role at the Enterprise in Latvia and Lithuania," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(3A), pages 143-163.
    3. Jenny Buchan & Lorelle Frazer & Scott Weaven & Binh Tran†Nam & Anthony Grace, 2018. "The Adequacy of Pre†purchase Due Diligence in Independent Small Business and Franchising," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 28(1), pages 127-139, March.
    4. Robert Rieg, 2019. "Selbstständigkeit von Bilanzbuchhaltern und Controllern: Eine empirische Untersuchung zu Einkommen und Determinanten," ZfKE – Zeitschrift für KMU und Entrepreneurship, Duncker & Humblot, Berlin, vol. 67(1), pages 35-66.
    5. Zahid Ali & Ghulam Mustafa, 2023. "On Accounting Firms Serving Small and Medium‐Sized Enterprises: A Review, Synthesis and Research Agenda," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 33(3), pages 313-332, September.
    6. Joe Putulowski & Rick Ardito & Robert Crosby, 2021. "A Quantitative Investigation: Applying the 4P's of Marketing to Entrepreneurial Accounting and Tax Preparer Firms," Technium Social Sciences Journal, Technium Science, vol. 21(1), pages 582-593, July.

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